Sisters Kat Thomashow and Laura Myers rolled into Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) well ahead of schedule for Tuesday night’s Phish performance. It was 6:30 a.m. when they parked their red Toyota RAV4 at the Hopewell venue and waited for the gate to open at 8 a.m. to buy their tickets.

“We’re here early to be the first ones in line so we can pick out our favorite spot on the rail,” said 22-year-old Thomashow of Lansing, Mich., who just graduated with a chemical engineering degree from Michigan State University.

The two, like hordes of others, are following the July 1 through Aug. 31 tour cross-country, hitting every venue. For Thomashow and Myers, their summer "home" is a red Toyota RAV4, equipped with a mattress.

Community Affairs specialist at Constellation and CMAC social media and marketing director Lynn Freida said the band has a huge following.

“Phish has a very dedicated crowd that travels to visit them,” said Freida. “Most of these patrons saw them last night and the night before that and so on.”

Thomashow and Myers will travel to all 25 concerts on Phish’s summer tour. And they’ll likely arrive ahead of the seven tractor trailers and eight buses that transport staging, gear and staff to each venue.

“You can’t miss any,” said Thomashow. “This is our 10th show of the tour, and since this is called the Chosen Spot — tonight we’re expecting something super-special.”

Spending nights in their Toyota means the two can use their money on tickets and merchandise instead of hotel bills.

“We’ll never miss a show ever again,” said 29-year-old Myers of New York, N.Y. “We would literally go anywhere. They’re so good — they have a huge following. When they are playing — it gets inside you. The instruments move you in your soul — from their hearts to our hearts.”

With tickets priced $45 to $60, Myers said she hibernates during off-tour months to save money.

Freida said more than 10,000 Phish fans jammed CMAC to hear favorites like “Buried Alive,” “Twist,” and “Heavy Things.” And massive crowds call for a boost in staffing.

“We are lucky to have great community partnerships that help us handle large crowds,” Freida said. “We work closely with the county and sheriff’s office to assist in directing traffic, and we amp up our security and other staffing to make sure we provide a safe, enjoyable experience for our patrons.”

Ontario County Sheriff Phil Povero said his department is “treating this as a larger attendance event.”

“We’ll have extra police officers to deal with traffic issues,” he said. “And we’ll work with (CMAC) security that is normally on duty — they’ve taken precautions to prepare for the event.”

Page 2 of 2 - Before and after the performance, Freida said band members will savor the area’s finest fare.

“Phish enjoys organic, local products, so our venue caterer has made sure to prepare fresh meals featuring local products for the tour,” said Freida. “The Finger Lakes Visitors Connection and F. Olivers worked with other local vendors and also provided gift baskets to the artists and crew that was filled with local products.”

Next up at CMAC is Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on Saturday, July 19.

“It should be a great show,” said Freida. “He is very popular right now with the motion picture release of Jersey Boys. It will be a great night – and as always, CMAC will have great concession offerings, wines and beers, and a friendly staff to provide for an experience like no other.”